美国人和世界领导人都在为天主教会的新领袖，教皇利奥十四世，他的名字是罗伯特·弗朗西斯·普雷沃斯特.
这位69岁的芝加哥人是第一位来自美国的教皇.
美国总统唐纳德·特朗普(Donald Trump)在社交媒体上向教皇利奥(Pope Leo)表示祝贺，称“意识到他是美国首位教皇，这是一种荣誉。”
特朗普的帖子继续写道:“多么令人兴奋，这是我们国家的巨大荣誉。”。“我期待见到教皇利奥十四世。那将是一个非常有意义的时刻!”
前总统乔·拜登是一名虔诚的天主教徒，他谈到了自己与教皇方济各的亲密关系，他在社交媒体上写道:“habe mus papam——愿上帝保佑伊利诺伊州的教皇利奥十四世。吉尔和我祝贺他，祝他成功。”
前副总统卡玛拉·哈里斯在周四晚上的X上写道，“祝贺教皇利奥十四世陛下的历史性选择。道格和我与全国乃至全世界数百万人一起，为他祈祷，祝愿他步入新的角色，领导天主教会。”
前总统巴拉克·奥巴马说:“米歇尔和我向芝加哥同胞教皇利奥十四世陛下表示祝贺。这对美国来说是历史性的一天，我们将为他祈祷，因为他开始了领导天主教会的神圣工作，并为这么多人树立了榜样，无论信仰如何。”
国务卿马尔科·卢比奥是一名天主教徒，他在一份声明中说，“这对天主教会来说是一个具有深远意义的时刻，在2025年的禧年里，为全世界超过10亿名信徒提供了新的希望和连续性。”
“美国期待通过首位美国教皇加深我们与罗马教廷的持久关系，”卢比奥的声明说。
前众议院议长南希·佩洛西也是一名天主教徒，她说:“我们所有人都希望并祈祷教皇陛下和他对教会的愿景取得成功。”
她在一份声明中说，“用教皇利奥十四世自己的话来说，我们可以成为一个传教士教堂，一个搭建桥梁的教堂，一个永远敞开大门接纳所有人的教堂。”。"让我们为教皇利奥十四世陛下和这种团结的远见而感谢上帝."
芝加哥市长布兰登·约翰逊(Brandon Johnson)称普雷沃斯特的当选是“最伟大城市历史上最伟大的时刻”，他告诉美国广播公司新闻直播(ABC News Live)，新教皇“出生在芝加哥，在芝加哥接受教育，回来后为这座城市服务。”
约翰逊称赞新教皇，称他“认识并理解移民的价值。”1878年，最后一位被任命为利奥·利奥十三世的教皇被称为“劳工教皇”，约翰逊称芝加哥是全美最支持劳工的城市。
约翰逊说，对芝加哥和世界来说，“今天真是不平凡的一天”。
世界领导人也表达了他们的祝贺。
意大利总理Giorgia Meloni在X上写道，“我向教皇利奥十四世致以最诚挚的祝愿，祝愿他开始任职。”
“在一个充满冲突和动荡的时代，他来自凉廊的祝福是对和平、博爱和责任的有力呼吁，”梅洛尼用意大利语写道。“这是沿着教皇方济各的足迹留下的精神遗产，意大利对此充满敬意和希望。”
英国首相基尔·斯塔默(Keir Starmer)向《X》杂志发表声明称，教皇利奥十四世的当选是“英国天主教徒无比喜悦的时刻”。
“教皇利奥是第一位美国教皇，”斯塔默写道。"这是一个重要的时刻。"
墨西哥总统克劳迪娅·谢恩鲍姆在X上写道，普雷沃斯特升任教皇重申了“我们对促进世界和平与繁荣的人文承诺。”
加拿大总理马克·卡尼向教皇利奥十四世表达了良好的祝愿，并称他的当选是“天主教界的历史性时刻”
“西斯廷教堂上空升起的白烟标志着一个新教皇职位的开始——对于全世界10亿多信徒来说，这是一个复兴、希望和团结的时刻。
巴西总统路易斯·伊纳西奥·卢拉·达席尔瓦向教皇利奥十四世表示祝贺，并在X上写道，他希望自己能继承前任教皇方济各的遗志。
“我们不需要战争、仇恨和偏狭，”达席尔瓦用葡萄牙语写道。“我们需要更多的团结和更多的人道主义。我们需要爱我们的邻居，这是基督教义的基础。”
宾夕法尼亚州的奥古斯丁天主教大学维拉诺瓦大学也在庆祝教皇，他在1977年获得了数学学士学位。
"对于维拉诺瓦大学和全球教会来说，这是多么骄傲和非凡的一天!"大学校长彼得·m·多诺霍牧师在给比利亚诺瓦社区的信中说。
“新教皇带来了新的视角、新的优先事项和精神指引，所有这些都可以深化我们的使命，强化我们的价值观，丰富我们的社区，”多诺霍说。“教皇利奥十四世以谦逊、温和、谨慎和热情而闻名，他的领导为我们提供了一个机会，通过奥古斯丁的视角重申我们对教育使命的承诺，因为我们追求知识和精神的增长。”
随着乌克兰和俄罗斯之间的战争愈演愈烈，乌克兰总统弗拉基米尔·泽连斯基在社交媒体上写道:“祝贺教皇利奥十四世@庞蒂费克斯陛下当选为圣彼得教廷的成员，并开始他的教皇任期。”
泽连斯基说:“乌克兰非常重视罗马教廷在维护国际法、谴责俄罗斯联邦对乌克兰的军事侵略以及保护无辜平民权利方面的一贯立场。”。“在我国的这一决定性时刻，我们希望梵蒂冈继续在道义和精神上支持乌克兰恢复正义和实现持久和平的努力。我祝愿教皇利奥十四世陛下在履行他的崇高使命时获得智慧、灵感和力量，无论是精神上的还是身体上的。”
与此同时，俄罗斯总统弗拉基米尔·普京在贺电中说:“请接受我对您当选教皇的衷心祝贺。我相信，俄罗斯和梵蒂冈之间建立的建设性对话和互动将在团结我们的基督教价值观的基础上继续发展。我祝愿你，教皇陛下，圆满完成赋予你的崇高使命，并祝你身体健康。”
在以色列和哈马斯的战争中，以色列总统艾萨克·赫尔佐格说:“我从圣城耶路撒冷向你们致以最热烈的祝愿。我们期待增进以色列和罗马教廷之间的关系，加强圣地和世界各地犹太人和基督徒之间的友谊。”
“愿你的教皇职位能够在所有信仰和民族之间架起沟通和理解的桥梁，”他继续说道。“愿我们看到仍被关押在加沙的人质立即安全返回，并迎来我们地区和全世界和平的新时代。”
Pope Leo XIV reactions: Americans, global leaders cheer for Chicago native
Americans and world leaders are cheering for thenew leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, whose name isRobert Francis Prevost.
The 69-year-old, who hails from Chicago, is thefirst pope from the United States.
President Donald Trump congratulated Pope Leo on social media, saying, "It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope."
"What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country," Trump's post continued. "I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!"
Former President Joe Biden, a devout Catholic who has spoken about his warm relationship with Pope Francis, wrote on social media, "Habemus papam -- May God bless Pope Leo XIV of Illinois. Jill and I congratulate him and wish him success."
Former Vice President Kamala Harris, in a post on X on Thursday night, wrote, "Congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his historic selection. Doug and I join millions across our nation and around the world in praying for him as he steps into his new role and leads the Catholic Church."
Former President Barack Obama said, "Michelle and I send our congratulations to a fellow Chicagoan, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. This is a historic day for the United States, and we will pray for him as he begins the sacred work of leading the Catholic Church and setting an example for so many, regardless of faith."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a Catholic, said in a statement, "This is a moment of profound significance for the Catholic Church, offering renewed hope and continuity amid the 2025 Jubilee Year to over a billion faithful worldwide."
"The United States looks forward to deepening our enduring relationship with the Holy See with the first American pontiff," Rubio's statement said.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, also a Catholic, said, "All of us hope and pray for the success of His Holiness and his vision for the Church."
"In his own words, Pope Leo XIV said, 'We can be a missionary church, a church that builds bridges, that is always open to receive everyone,'" she said in a statement. "Let us thank God for His Holiness Pope Leo XIV and for this vision of unity."
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson called Prevost's selection "the greatest moment in the history of the greatest city," telling ABC News Live that the new pope was "born in Chicago, educated in Chicago, came back and served this city."
Johnson praised the new pope, saying he "recognizes and understands the value of immigration." The last pope to be named Leo, Leo XIII in 1878, was known as the "Pope of Labor," and Johnson called Chicago the most pro-worker city in America.
"Today is truly a remarkable day" for Chicago and the world, Johnson said.
World leaders are also offering their congratulations.
Italy's prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, wrote on X, "I extend my most sincere wishes to Pope Leo XIV for the beginning of his pontificate."
"In a time marked by conflicts and unrest, his words from the Loggia of Blessings are a powerful call for peace, fraternity, and responsibility," Meloni wrote in Italian. "A spiritual legacy that follows in the path traced by Pope Francis, and which Italy regards with respect and hope."
The prime minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, posted a statement to X that the election of Pope Leo XIV was a "profound moment of joy for Catholics in the United Kingdom."
"Pope Leo is the first American Pope," Starmer wrote. "This is a momentous moment."
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote on X that Prevost's ascension to pope reaffirms "our humanistic commitment to promoting peace and prosperity in the world."
Canada's prime minister, Mark Carney, offered well wishes to Pope Leo XIV and described his election as a "historic moment for the Catholic community."
"The white smoke rising above the Sistine Chapel signals the beginning of a new papacy – a moment of renewal, hope, and unity for more than a billion faithful worldwide," Carney posted to X.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva congratulated Pope Leo XIV, writing on X that he hopes he continues the legacy of his predecessor, Pope Francis.
"We do not need wars, hatred, and intolerance," Da Silva wrote in Portuguese. "We need more solidarity and more humanism. We need love for our neighbor, which is the foundation of Christ's teachings."
The Augustinian Catholic university Villanova University in Pennsylvania is also celebrating the pope, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics there in 1977.
"What a proud and extraordinary day for Villanova University and the global Church!" university president the Rev. Peter M. Donohue said in a message to the Villanova community.
"A new Pope brings fresh perspectives, renewed priorities and spiritual guidance, all of which can deepen our mission, strengthen our values and enrich our community," Donohue said. "Known for his humility, gentle spirit, prudence and warmth, Pope Leo XIV’s leadership offers an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to our educational mission, through an Augustinian lens, as we pursue intellectual and spiritual growth."
As the war between Ukraine and Russia rages on, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on social media, "Congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV @Pontifex on his election to the See of Saint Peter and the beginning of his pontificate."
"Ukraine deeply values the Holy See's consistent position in upholding international law, condemning the Russian Federation's military aggression against Ukraine, and protecting the rights of innocent civilians," Zelenskyy said. "At this decisive moment for our country, we hope for the continued moral and spiritual support of the Vatican in Ukraine's efforts to restore justice and achieve a lasting peace. I wish His Holiness Leo XIV wisdom, inspiration, and strength -- both spiritual and physical -- in carrying out his noble mission."
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a message, "Please accept my heartfelt congratulations on your election as Pope. I am confident that the constructive dialog and interaction established between Russia and the Vatican will continue to develop on the basis of the Christian values that unite us. I wish you, Your Holiness, success in fulfilling the high mission entrusted to you, as well as good health and well-being."
Amid the Israel-Hamas war, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said, "I send you my warmest wishes from the Holy City of Jerusalem. We look forward to enhancing the relationship between Israel and the Holy See, and strengthening the friendship between Jews and Christians in the Holy Land and around the world."
"May your papacy be one of building bridges and understanding between all faiths and peoples," he continued. "May we see the immediate and safe return of the hostages still held in Gaza, and a new era of peace in our region and around the world."
